I’m a stickler for sunblock. Especially as I approach my mid-thirties, damage from past burns like the one I got in my 20s during a family vacation in the Caribbean is now coming back to haunt me. Damn brown spots! My grandma always told me to stay out of the sun even when others said a little tan made my pale complexion look healthy. She knew what was up. Wearing SPF should be as habitual as wearing your seatbelt. So, just as I did
last summer, I’m not letting this one slide by without introducing you to the latest blocking formulas that would make my grandma proud.
Mineral Suncreen
“Mineral” has become a buzzword in the beauty industry. Every big brand from CoverGirl to L’Oreal has launched a natural line to capitalize on this trend. Sunblocks are no exception. They’re the latest response to people questioning the safety of traditionally used chemical formulas. While studies haven’t proven that the chemicals are harmful to our health, these options are a good alternative for those who believe the jury is still out.
Alba Botanica Fragrance Free Sunblock Mineral SPF 30. Offers UVA/UVB protection and is formulated with aloe vera, green tea and chamomile to soothe sensitive skin.
Clarins UV Plus HP Day Screen. This new non-greasy formula could double as your daytime moisturizer. It’s light, absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave any residue behind.
Beach Day Favorite
We all have a go-to sunscreen that we buy time and again, season after season. My tried and true favorite is
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 60. Having had such success with this sunblock, I got my mother-in-law to try it. She’s the woman you’d mistake for a beekeeper at the beach, and it’s proven so effective, she’s stripped off a few of her layers of SPF protective clothing and now buys it in bulk! It comes in a cream, which I like for beach days, and a lightweight fluid. As expected, the brand has also launched a nice mineral block (Anthelios 50 Mineral), but my loyalty remains with the original.
Note: For the iPhone users out there, check out La Roche-Posay’s new app called “MY UV Check.” You enter your location and it tells you the index for the day’s UVA and UVB exposure. Pretty cool!
Wet Skin sprays
Nowadays, practically every new beauty product has a groundbreaking technology. Winter introduced a mess-free way to color your hair at home using a
foam mousse. This summer’s technology du jour is found in the new “wet skin” blocks. The formulas are easier to apply than ever because they can be sprayed directly on wet or sweaty skin. Both
Neutrogena Wet Skin Sunblock Spray SPF 85+ and
Aveeno Hydrosport Sunblock Spray SPF 85 are convenient to apply after a dip.
Sunblock + Skincare
If you’re looking to repair sun damage as it’s happening,
Neova DNA Damage Control blocks rays with zinc oxide and contains marine plankton that the company claims has been clinically proven to reduce DNA damage by 45% in one hour.
NEWSFLASH: The FDA just announced new regulations for the sunscreen industry that will go into effect next summer. Here’s what to expect:
1. More accurate labeling to show you how much protection you’re getting from both UVB (burning) and UVA (aging) rays. In the past, companies have been able to claim a high SPF simply based on the measure of UVB protection. If a sunblock doesn’t live up to the requirements that would provide broad spectrum protection, which means it fights both UVA and UVB rays, a warning on the packaging will have to state that the block is not shown to protect skin cancer or early aging.
2. The terms sunblock, waterproof and sweatproof are disappearing. These give consumers a false sense of protection and will be replaced with more humble descriptors such as water resistant.
3. SPFs over 50 may be banned. The reason being that high SPFs like 100 are misleading consumers to believe they’re getting way more protection than they actually are. As a result, people aren’t applying enough product or reapplying as often as they should.
This isn’t the first time we’re seeing tie-dyed tips (Niki Minaj turned her mane into a rainbow of colors earlier this year), but Lauren’s take is much more subtle and wearable. Plus, the color is temporary and gets even prettier as it fades out. To create this look, I heard Lauren used Paul Mitchell’s INKWORKS (a professional, semi-permanent color treatment available in 10 shades) to achieve the blue-colored highlights. If you’re interested in giving this trend a try, here are some how-to tips from colorist and Paul Mitchell Artistic Director Lucie Doughty to pass on to your stylist:
1. To get the full effect, have your stylist pre-lighten the hair to a pale blonde by using Paul Mitchell’s Dual Purpose Lightener and then the colorist can apply Paul Mitchell INKWORKS over the top
2. Ask to have INKWORKS painted all the way through the strand or just on the tips like Lauren’s and then isolate each section in foil
3. Countless colors can be created from the Paul Mitchell INKWORKS color collection, so you can decide which color combinations work for you (to get LC’s look ask for Hot Pink, Green and Blue)
4. Your stylist can dilute them with any of Paul Mitchell’s daily conditioners to create beautiful pastel tones (like LC’s!)
Wondering which products are worthy of being your summer must-haves? I share my picks below in the latest story I wrote for 
l
Vital Juice
Check out my latest story for 
Skin by Monica Olsen Restore MSM Facial Cleanser
Melvita Apicosma Moisturizing Cream
Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm
The Body Shop Nutriganics and Natrulift Skincare Collections I was happy to find out that a mainstream retailer like The Body Shop was launching two natural skincare lines. Natrulift contains organic pomegranate to firm skin while Nutriganics has earned itself the same Ecocert certification as Melvita, proving that all of the ingredients and packaging are organic and ecological. That all sounded good, but I wasn’t completely sold until I attended the launch event and actually got to experience the products.
Celebrity esthetician Molly Walsh (she gives facials to Jim Carrey and Brook Shields!) treated me to my own mini facial using products from the lines and shared her tips that of course I’m passing on to you. Two of my favorites:
1. “Don’t dry your skin in between steps like cleansing and moisturizing. That’s because skin is like a sponge and will absorb the products best if the formulas are applied when skin is still damp.”
2. “Instead of rinsing off your cleanser by splashing it with water, take a damp wash cloth and use slight pressure to remove the face wash. This action actually gives your skin a daily mild exfoliation so there’s no need to incorporate an additional exfoliating product into your skincare routine.
When it comes to brows, skinny is not sexy. I learned this the hard way a fews years back when mine suffered from a beauty adventure gone bad. Brows should have clean lines, tamed hairs and a natural fullness. What I got were two narrow frowns that had been plucked to smithereens. The weeks it took for my brows to bounce back proved how necessary they are. They not only frame your face, they help form your expressions (unless you’ve overdone it with Botox).
Thankfully, history did not repeat itself during this salon visit, and my arches were whipped back into shape with a gentle wax. Then, I took things a step further. The brow expert Anne mentioned that she tinted eyebrows. Even though I use a brow powder at home to fill in my brows and darken them a touch, I’d never considered coloring mine before. But, tempt me with a new service, and I wouldn’t be doing my job if I said no. So, I decided I was up for the ride. (See how they turned out in the above pic).
She first rubbed something that was like Vaseline on the skin around my brows so it didn’t get stained and then applied the tint. After about 10 minutes, Annie swiped off the color with a wet cotton ball. While the process was uneventful, I was pleasantly surprised by how this tweak could make such a positive impact on my face and on my lifestyle. The subtle contrast created between my fair skin and dark brows really accentuated my blue eyes. Plus, I’m really liking that my makeup routine requires one less step. I’ve shoved my brow powder to the bottom of my makeup bag and that’s where it will remain for at least the next six weeks (that’s how long it takes for the dye to gradually fade). Better yet, there’s no upkeep or touchup required. Just gotta decide when to schedule my next appointment. What about you? Would you get your eyebrows tinted? Comment below! p.s. Turns out Sine Qua Non means “an indispensable or essential ingredient.” 
